Baptist Burial Ground, Five Ashes, Odcombe

There is a Baptist burial ground located in an isolated position off Ham Hill Road at Five Ashes, which is half a mile to the north west of the village of Odcombe.  

The burial ground is said to have been established in 1606 but the first internment recorded there was in 1720.  The land for the burial ground was given by Mrs Miller.  She lived in Odcombe and was the mother of John Miller, who was the second pastor of Yeovil Baptist Church.  At this time Nonconformists could be refused burial in the churchyards of parish churches.

In 1774 the family of James Kiddle, who was the 3rd pastor of Yeovil Baptist Church (1721-1751), gifted an adjoining piece of land, which enabled the burial ground to be extended.  The Kiddle family were related to the Millers and had acquired the land around the burial ground from them.  In 1809 the Kiddle family gave another piece of land, so that the burial ground could be extended again.   It was enclosed by a high wall made from Ham stone blocks either at this time or possibly in 1868.   There is a pedestrian gateway on the south east side with iron gates. These are now kept locked.

The burial ground contains six 18th century headstones, three of which have angels carved in relief on them.  In 1981 volunteers from the Yeovil Archaeological and Natural History Society recorded all the memorial inscriptions in the burial ground.  At this time 46 of the gravestones were legible and there were a few that were unreadable.  They noted that the earliest inscription transcribed was from 1740 and the most recent was from 1964.

Grid reference: ST 503 160

Gateway to the Baptist burial ground

Inside the Baptist burial ground

Stone wall enclosing the Baptist burial ground

John Rouse Merriott Chard VC - Rorke's Drift

John Rouse Merriott Chard was born in Boxhill near Plymouth on 21st December 1847.  He was educated at grammar schools in Cheltenham and Plymouth. He then went to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich and he was commissioned lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 15th July 1868.

From 1870-75 John Chard served with the Royal Engineers in Bermuda and Malta.  He returned to England in April 1875.  In December 1878 he left England with the 5th Company, Royal Engineers to fight in the Anglo-Zulu War in South Africa.  They arrived in Durban in January 1879 and marched to Helpmekaar (in what is now KwaZulu-Natal province).  John Chard was sent ahead to Rorke's Drift on the Buffalo River with a few men.  Rorke's Drift at this time consisted of a kraal (traditional village of huts), hospital and store.  

On 22nd January John Chard was left in charge at Rorke's Drift with orders to protect the river crossing. Later the same day news reached them of the massacre of 1,300 British soldiers at Isandlwana, about 10 miles to the east.  John Chard made the decision to defend his position, rather than retreat.  There were 8 officers and 131 non-commissioned officers at Rorke's Drift but 35 of the men were ill in the hospital.  John Chard hastily made an entrenchment out of biscuit tins from the stores.  Soon after they were attacked repeatedly by about 3,000 Zulus for the rest of the day and on through the night.  The Zulus set light to the thatched roof of the hospital but the British soldiers under John Chard held their position. During the night they made a redoubt out of old mealie-bags.  The Zulus retreated at daybreak and John Chard went round and collected up the arms of the dead Zulus and strengthened the position as much as possible.  370 Zulus had been killed but only 15 British soldiers had died (+12 wounded).  The Zulus approached again later that day but retreated when British reinforcements arrived.

John Chard remained at Rorke's Drift for a few weeks but then became ill and was taken to Ladysmith to recover.  When reinforcements arrived in Natal in April, John Chard's company was placed in the flying column under Brigadier-General Evelyn Wood and took part in all its operations, including the Battle of Ulundi on 4th July 1879. John Chard was decorated with the Victoria Cross on 6th July 1879 by the commander of the forces, Sir Garnet Wolseley. Victoria Crosses were also awarded to 10 other British soldiers who had fought with John Chard at Rorke's Drift.   

On his return to England in October 1879, John Chard visited Queen Victoria at Balmoral and she gave him a gold signet ring. He was promoted to major in July 1886.  He then served for 2 years at Devonport, 6 years in Cyprus and 5 years in the north-western military district.  In December 1892 he sailed to Singapore, where he was commanding royal engineer for 3 years. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in January 1893.  After returning to Britain, he was appointed commanding royal engineer of the Perth sub-district in January 1896. He was promoted to colonel in January 1897.

John Chard died of cancer of the tongue on 1st November 1897 at his brother's rectory in Hatch Beauchamp.  He was buried in the churchyard at Hatch Beauchamp on 5th November.  There is a stained glass window in the chancel of the church, which is dedicated to him.

Grave of John Chard in the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church in Hatch Beauchamp

John Chard's memorial window in the church of St John the Baptist, Hatch Beauchamp

John Chard's medals, including the Victoria Cross, in the top left corner of his memorial window

Church of St John the Baptist, Hatch Beauchamp